[Carbapenamase OXA-23 like-producing Acinetobacter baumanii epidemic outbreak in a hospitalization unit.] / Brote epidémico por Acinetobacter baumanii productor de carbapenamasa OXA-23 like en una unidad de hospitalización.

OBJECTIVE: Despite its great ubiquity and morbidity and mortality, the scientific evidence on the hospital control of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumanii (ABMR) outside the Intensive Care Units in Spain is scarce. The objective was to describe an epidemic outbreak by MRAB and analyze the effectiveness of the actions carried out. METHODS: Prospective observational study of admitted-rotated patients in a multipathological control at the University Hospital of Guadalajara, Spain, during the outbreak (September 20-November 3, 2017); using Mambrino Electronic Health Record. A genetic study of the resistance mechanism and molecular characterization of the strains were carried out. Frequency measurements were estimated, with subsequent comparative analysis of cases vs controls. RESULTS: The median age of the study population (N=138) was 83.2 years (Interquartile Range [IR]=69.7-90.1). There were 3 cases of ABMR infection among them. Thirteen percent required issolation, 17% because of MRAB. The MRAB incidence was 2.2 cases/100 admitted-rotated (mortality rate=33%). The excess stay for cases was 17±4.3 (95%CI=8.5-25.6), with an incidence density of 3 cases/103 days. The responsible strain was carbapenemase OXA-23. We found a single case in the colonization study of contacts. No MRAB was isolated from environmental samples. CONCLUSIONS: Along with epidemiological research, coordination and compliance with precautions; prompt identification and management of an outbreak are crucial to minimize the colonization pressure and to stop dissemination.

OBJETIVO: Pese a su gran ubicuidad y morbimortalidad, la evidencia científica sobre el control hospitalario de Acinetobacter baumanii multirresistente (ABMR) fuera de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en España es escasa. El objetivo fue describir un brote epidémico por ABMR y analizar la efectividad del manejo. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de los ingresados-rotados (N=138) en un control de pluripatológicos del Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara (España), durante el brote (20 septiembre-3 noviembre de 2017), utilizando la Historia Clínica Electrónica Mambrino. Se realizó un estudio genético del mecanismo de resistencia y caracterización molecular de cepas. Se estimaron medidas de frecuencia y análisis comparativo de casos respecto a controles. RESULTADOS: La mediana de edad de la población expuesta fue de 83,2 años (Rango Intercuartílico [RI]=69,7-90,1). Hubo entre ellos tres casos de infección por ABMR. Requirieron aislamiento un 13% de los ingresados-rotados, el 17% por ABMR. La incidencia de ABMR fue de 2,2 por cada 100 ingresados-rotados (tasa de mortalidad=33%). El exceso de estancia de los casos fue de 17±4,3 días (IC95%=8,5-25,6), con una densidad de incidencia de 3/103 días. La cepa responsable fue carbapenemasa OXA-23. En el estudio de colonización de contactos se evidenció un caso. El estudio ambiental resultó negativo. CONCLUSIONES: Junto a la investigación epidemiológica, la coordinación y el cumplimiento de precauciones, la prontitud en la identificación y gestión del brote son determinantes para minimizar la presión de colonización y frenar la cadena de diseminación.

[Severe acute hepatitis by delta virus superinfection: diagnostic significance of molecular biology.] / Hepatitis aguda grave por sobreinfección por virus delta: importancia diagnóstica de la biologia molecular.

HDV infection may occur within a primary HBV infection (co-infection) or by sub sequent acquisition ofthe virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B (superinfection). Acute HDV infection is rarely diagnosed. Since cero conversion usually takes place about six weeks after viral infection, early diagnosis requires the use of direct diagnostic techniques, such as antigen HD V (HDAg) detection, or genomic amplification by means of molecular biology methods (RT-PCR). Here were port the case of a patient with chronic HBV infection that develops a severe acute hepatitis due to VHD superinfec- tion only detected by molecular biology.

Skin and soft tissue infection caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans: report of 14 cases.

BACKGROUND: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans are very infrequent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of this infection. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective review of 14 cases of SSTI due to A. xylosoxidans that occurred at the University Hospital of Guadalajara (Spain) from January 2007 to December 2012. RESULTS: The infection was secondary to vascular diseases, trauma, and recent surgery in 12 patients (85.7%). The most frequent clinical presentation was infection of a vascular ulcer (5 cases). The infection was monomicrobial in 7 patients (50%) and 9 cases were community-acquired (64.2%). The clinical outcome of the patients was uniformly good after antibiotic treatment, except in 4 patients who suffered recurrence of the infection. CONCLUSION: A. xylosoxidans should be considered a potential pathogen in patients with SSTIs, especially in patients with vascular diseases or after surgery or trauma. A history of contact with water should be investigated in all cases. Treatment can be difficult due to the high level of antibiotic resistance. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be useful for treatment in outpatients with community-acquired infections.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis complicated with peritonitis caused by Lactobacillus plantarum.

Lactobacillus spp. rarely causes human disease. We report a case of a 57-year-old man with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and vascular disease admitted to our hospital with severe abdominal pain and fever. Signs of peritonitis were found upon examination. The patient underwent surgery, and a diagnosis of perforated cholecystitis with purulent peritonitis was made intra-operatively. A cholecystectomy was performed, and therapy with imipenem was initiated. Lactobacillus plantarum was isolated from bile and peritoneal fluid cultures 2 days later. The patient recovered well and was discharged on post-operative day 16 after 14 days of treatment with imipenem. To our knowledge, this is the second case reported of acute cholecystitis caused by Lactobacillus spp. This organism should be considered as a cause of biliary infections, especially in patients with underlying diseases. Correct identification is often difficult, but it is very important because these organisms are usually resistant to vancomycin and other antibiotics.

Outbreak of multiresistant OXA-24- and OXA-51-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in an internal medicine ward.

Here we describe the clinical, microbiological, epidemiological, and molecular characterization of an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) involving 5 patients admitted to the internal medicine ward of our hospital. Over a 6-week period, 5 MRAB isolates were recovered from 5 patients, including 1 with fatal meningitis, 3 with skin and soft tissue infections, and 1 with respiratory colonization. One sample obtained during environmental monitoring in the ward was A. baumannii-positive. According to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing results, the strains isolated from all patients and the environmental sample belonged to a single clone, identified as ST79 by multilocus sequence typing. The blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-51 carbapenemases were detected in all isolates. Four patients died, but only the death of the meningitis patient was probably related to the A. baumannii infection. The infection source was probably the hands of the healthcare workers because the outbreak strain was isolated from the surface of a serum container. The results of the present study revealed the importance of strict adherence to control measures by all healthcare workers because the consequences of noncompliance can be very serious.

Introduction of HIV type 1 non-B subtypes into Eastern Andalusia through immigration.

A study of the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in the native and immigrant populations of Eastern Andalusia (Southern Spain) was conducted to determine any changes between 1983 and 2001 and to identify antiretroviral resistance mutations in non-B subtype strains among the immigrant population. The study included 111 native patients from Eastern Andalusia: 94 infected with HIV before 1996 and 17 infected since 1996. A parallel study was conducted on 26 HIV-positive immigrants from Africa. Subtyping was done with the heteroduplex mobility assay. Resistance mutations were determined by line probe assay. A total of 137 patients were studied: 9.2% had subtype A (n = 12), 80.8% subtype B (n = 105), and 1.5% subtype C (n = 2). Among the Eastern Andalusia population infected before 1996, 10.9% had non-B subtypes, compared with 23.5% of those infected after that year. The greatest percentage of non-B subtypes (52.4%) was found among the immigrant population. Resistance mutation K70R was detected in one of the six immigrants with non-B subtype and M41L in another. There has been a slight increase in the diversity of HIV-1 subtypes in Eastern Andalusia over the past few years, possibly influenced by non-B subtypes introduced by immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa.